Staggered cooling system controls for battery energy storage systems

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for smart control of cooling systems to optimize cooling utilization such that demand charges can be avoided. The present invention groups battery energy storage systems (BESS) containers into multiple individual blocks. The cooling units of individual blocks are staggered to turn ON/OFF with a time delay such that: i) cooling load of each block is below the demand load; ii) if the cooling load of a given block exceeds the demand load (ex: 500 kilowatts), the turn-on time during the demand charge hour is not to exceed the demand charge time limit (example: 15 minutes); iii) No two blocks are operating at the same time; iv) the staggered time limits are to be determined based on real-time monitoring of BESS; and BESS containers' internal temperatures such that they do not exceed a set temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method for managing an electric energy center with a plurality of battery energy storage systems (BESSs), the method comprising:
 accessing the electric energy center with the plurality of BESSs, each with an associated cooling system; 
 dividing the plurality of BESSs into distinct, non-overlapping groups of two or more individual blocks in which each of the individual blocks includes one or more BESS, whereby the divisions are based on one of:
 i) a total cooling load for each individual block, 
 ii) a temperature inside the one or more BESS, 
 iii) an electrical distribution layout in the electric energy center, 
 iv) a thermal distribution layout of the associated cooling system, or 
 v) a combination thereof: 
 
 accessing an internal temperature of at least one BESS in each of the distinct, non-overlapping groups of the two or more individual blocks; 
 in response to the internal temperature of the at least one BESS in each of the distinct, non-overlapping groups of the two or more individual blocks being within a thermal operating range, selecting one individual block out of the two or more individual blocks; 
 turning on the associated cooling system for the one individual block selected for a settable time interval, wherein the settable time interval is based on a demand charge time limit; and 
 turning off the associated cooling system of individual blocks of the two or more individual blocks not selected for another settable time interval. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the associated cooling system is at least one of AC units, evaporative coolers, geothermal cooling, forced ventilation, heat exchangers, chilled water, liquid systems, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the demand charge time limit is specified by an electric utility provider for a site with the plurality of BESSs. 
     
     
       4. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the demand charge time limit changes depending on one of a time of day, a day of a year, outside ambient temperature, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       5. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if a cooling electrical load associated with turning on the at least one associated cooling system for the one individual block selected exceeds the demand load; and 
 in response to the cooling electrical load exceeding the demand load, adjusting the settable time interval to turning off the at least one associated cooling system with the one individual block selected to be less than the demand load. 
 
     
     
       6. A computer-implemented method for managing an electric energy center with a plurality of battery energy storage systems (BESSs), the method comprising:
 a) accessing the electric energy center with the plurality of BESSs, each with at least one associated cooling system; 
 b) dividing the plurality of BESSs into distinct, non-overlapping groups of two or more individual blocks in which each of the individual blocks includes one or more BESS, whereby the divisions are based on one of:
 i) a total cooling load for each individual block, 
 ii) a temperature inside the one or more BESS, 
 iii) an electrical distribution layout in the electric energy center, 
 iv) a thermal distribution layout of the at least one associated cooling system, or 
 v) a combination thereof; 
 
 c) accessing an internal temperature of at least one BESS in each of the distinct, nonoverlapping groups of the two or more individual blocks; 
 d) in response to the internal temperature of the at least one BESS in each of the distinct, non-overlapping groups of the two or more individual blocks being above the thermal operating range, operating the at least one associated cooling system until the internal temperature is within the thermal operating range prior to operating each of the individual blocks; 
 e) in response to the internal temperature of the at least one BESS in each of the distinct, non-overlapping groups of the two or more individual blocks being within a thermal operating range, selecting one individual block out of the two or more individual blocks; 
 f) turning on the at least one associated cooling system for the one individual block selected, while the at least one associated cooling system for each non-selected individual block is off; and 
 g) turning off the at least one associated cooling system with the one individual block selected, in response to 
 i) a settable time interval expiring, 
 ii) an internal temperature for each BESS in the selected one individual block being within a thermal operating range, 
 iii) an internal temperature of each BESS in each unselected individual block being outside a thermal operating range, or 
 iv) a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       7. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 repeating steps b through g for each subsequent cooling activity. 
 
     
     
       8. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein in step b, the dividing the plurality of BESSs into the distinct, non-overlapping groups of the two or more individual blocks is further based on a total cooling load being less than a demand charge time limit. 
     
     
       9. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein in step b, the dividing the plurality of BESSs into the distinct, non-overlapping groups of the two or more individual blocks is further based on including a sub-set of the two or more individual blocks. 
     
     
       10. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein in step b, the electrical distribution layout in the electric energy center is based on breakers, feeders, load centers, one or more electrical devices that distributes electricity at the electric energy center, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       11. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein in step b, the thermal distribution layout of the at least one associated cooling system is based on liquid cooling zones, forced air cooling zones, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       12. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein in response to the settable time interval expiring, turning off the associated cooling system with the one individual block selected and selecting another block in the distinct, non-overlapping groups of the two or more individual blocks and repeating step b and step e. 
     
     
       13. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one associated cooling system is at least one of AC units, evaporative coolers, geothermal cooling, forced ventilation, heat exchangers, chilled water, liquid systems, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       14. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein a demand charge time limit is specified by an electric utility provider for a site with the plurality of BESSs. 
     
     
       15. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein a demand charge time limit changes depending on one of a time of day, a day of a year, outside ambient temperature, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       16. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , further comprises:
 determining if a cooling electrical load associated with turning on the at least one associated cooling system for the one individual block selected exceeds the demand load; and 
 in response to the cooling electrical load exceeding the demand load, adjusting the settable time interval to turning off the at least one associated cooling system with the one individual block selected to be less than the demand load. 
 
     
     
       17. A system for managing an electric energy center with a plurality of battery energy storage systems (BESSs), the system comprising:
 a computer memory capable of storing machine instructions; and 
 a hardware processor in communication with the computer memory, the hardware processor configured to access the computer memory to execute the machine instructions to perform:
 a) accessing the electric energy center with the plurality of BESSs, each with at least one associated cooling system; 
 b) dividing the plurality of BESSs into distinct, non-overlapping groups of two or more individual blocks in which each of the individual blocks includes one or more BESS, whereby the divisions are based on one of:
 i) a total cooling load for each individual block, 
 ii) a temperature inside the one or more BESS, 
 iii) an electrical distribution layout in the electric energy center, 
 iv) a thermal distribution layout of the at least one associated cooling system, or 
 v) a combination thereof; 
 
 c) accessing an internal temperature of at least one BESS in each of the distinct, non-overlapping groups of the two or more individual blocks; 
 d) in response to the internal temperature of the at least one BESS in each of the distinct, non-overlapping groups of the two or more individual blocks being above the thermal operating range, operating the at least one associated cooling system until the internal temperature is within the thermal operating range prior to operating each of the individual blocks; 
 f) in response to the internal temperature of the at least one BESS in each of the distinct, non-overlapping groups of the two or more individual blocks being within a thermal operating range, selecting one individual block out of the two or more individual blocks; 
 g) turning on, the at least one associated cooling system for the one individual block selected, while the at least one associated cooling system for each non-selected individual block is off; and 
 f) turning off the at least one associated cooling system with the one individual block selected, in response to: 
 i) a settable time interval expiring, 
 ii) an internal temperature for each BESS in the selected one individual block being within a thermal operating range, 
 iii) an internal temperature of each BESS in each unselected block being outside a thermal operating range, or 
 iv) a combination thereof. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to perform:
 repeating steps b through g for each subsequent cooling activity. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 17 , wherein in step b, the dividing the plurality of BESSs into the distinct, non-overlapping groups of the two or more individual blocks is further based on a total cooling load being less than a demand load. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 17 , further comprises
 determining if a cooling electrical load associated with turning on, the at least one associated cooling system for the one individual block selected exceeds the demand load; and 
 in response to the cooling electrical load exceeding the demand load, adjusting the settable time interval to turning off the at least one associated cooling system with the one individual block selected to be less than the demand load.